There are some amazing bands in Australia at the moment that seem to be tapping right into the passion and power of the Rock that we used to love as kids and yet who manage to still put their own modern slant on things. The beauty of course is n the balance but I’m starting to find that older listeners are starting to catch on, that hey, maybe they do make them like they used to. Add to that the kids picking up on groove and retro sounds and you have a real melting pot that sadly just needs more people out there in the clubs to kick start this new music revolution. If only we had a population the size of the US!
Opening track ‘I am the Storm’ has elements of the greats of the 7o’s rock scene and even an interlude mid-song that makes me think of The Doors, it’s powerful, wonderful and may well just be my song on the year. It’s the perfect storm,no pun intended of great back-line, wailing guitars and soulful vocal. First time I heard it I though “Jeez that will take some beating” and whilst I don’t think there’s anything on here that quite hits those lofty heights they get pretty damned close,pretty damned often!
‘It’s Been a Long Time Comin” takes on a real Rock and Roll aspect that feels like Slade or Mott the Hoople seen through the filter of 40 years, it has that patina and sonic attack that just sounds like it was forged back in those simpler times but never for once loses its modern edge. ‘Sold Me Down the River’ is funkier as it stutters along before hitting its groove and immediately you realise how much more there is to Palace of the King.
Add to that melting pot the thick groove and rock posturing of ‘A Dog with a Bone’; the Bluesy swagger of ‘Said the Spider to the Bird’ and the dark groove and slither of ‘Move Through the Fire’ and you realise you have seriously good record on your hands.
It doesn’t end there though ‘The Serpent’ adds fuzzy guitar to the satisfying hard rock stomp, whilst ‘Horizon’ injects an urgency and fat grove into the mix and ‘Fly Like an Evil’ broods and bristles and chugs before ‘Back on My Feet Again’ has the final word in spectacular fashion drawing everything you’ve heard together and shooting it to the skies.
This is an incredible album by an incredible band.Time to hit play again…
